A married plumber who followed a woman home from an all-night bakery to carry out a sex attack has been jailed for two years.
Pie Bob’s predator Stephen Willocks stalked his victim back to her home before pouncing on her and sexually assaulting her.
The 59-year-old grandfather was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years after being found guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court.
The jury heard how Willocks had first followed the woman to the 24-hour bakery in Arbroath from a nightclub where he was drinking alone.
They heard he was pestering the woman in Pie Bob’s and witnesses described how she appeared upset as she left with a tray of baked goods and got into a taxi.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she next saw Willocks – who was not previously known to her – at her home.
She said she told him to leave but after she went inside and upstairs to use the bathroom, she came out to be confronted by Willocks.
Sheriff notes lack of remorse
Sheriff Paul Brown said: “This is a very serious matter.
“The complainer’s evidence was that her memory of her journey from the nightclub to Pie Bob’s to her home was unclear.
“However, she remembers coming into her home herself.
“She said you came in after her.
“She emerged to find you on the stairwell.
“She said she told you to leave. You assaulted her.
“I take the view that the complainer’s evidence was credible and reliable.
“You followed her. She was uncomfortable and scared in Pie Bob’s.
“Neighbours spoke to her running hysterically into their house in a state of undress.
“I note your previous good character and the devastation this has had on your life.
“What I have not heard is any remorse, empathy or concern for the victim of your crime.”
‘Out of character’
Counsel for the defence, Jonathan Crowe, said: “It is perhaps all too easy to apply sinister overtones to the case, to suggest he’s some sort of predator who targeted her in the nightclub, followed her home and assaulted her.
“It does not follow automatically that the accused followed her home.
“Evidence from the complainer, accused and CCTV was open to interpretation on how he ended up in her home.
“It was her evidence that she was oblivious to anything until she turned round at the front door and became aware of the accused behind her.
“It was a situation where two drunk individuals ended up at the complainer’s flat and Mr Willocks tried to initiate sexual relations with the complainer which she did not want.
“This led to what the jury decided was a sexual assault.
“He and his family are of the opinion this was completely out of character for him.”
He said his first offender client had no “plausible explanation” for gong to the nightclub.
Rape intention deletion
Willocks, Townhead Road, Arbroath, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the 21-year-old woman at an address in the Angus town on 21 December 2019.
The jury deleted a reference to him having the intent to rape his victim from the charge before finding him guilty of a violent sex attack.
He was cleared of a second charge of sexually assaulting a second woman in the Anchor Bar in Arbroath on November 9 2019.
